Liquid Transfer Connector with Absorptive Foam for Leakage Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for transferring and combining liquids, such as buffer solutions and anesthetics, face challenges with leakage and backflow due to the displacement of recipient liquids during fluid transfer, particularly when using conventional containers with needle-penetrable septums and dispensing plungers.

Innovation Solution

A liquid transfer connector with a high-porosity, rapid-absorption liquid-absorptive foam is used to capture and absorb the displaced recipient fluid, featuring a transfer needle and an exhaust needle with an absorptive mass that minimizes free liquid in the chamber, reducing the risk of leakage and backflow through a vent or other means.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a sealed chamber is used to contain excess liquid during fluid transfer, then leakage is prevented, but air displacement becomes difficult and liquid backflow risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleakage preventionVSAvoidair displacement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a gas-permeable liquid-impermeable membrane that allows air to escape during fluid transfer while preventing liquid from passing through. This resolves the contradiction by enabling air displacement without compromising the sealed nature of the chamber, thus maintaining leakage prevention while facilitating proper venting during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

2Ease of operation

If a vent is provided in the chamber to allow air displacement, then air can be released, but liquid leakage through the vent occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair displacementVSAvoidleakage prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The gas-permeable liquid-impermeable membrane serves as a selective barrier in the vent pathway, permitting air molecules to pass through during pressure equalization while its liquid-impermeable properties prevent excess fluid from leaking through the same vent opening, thus resolving the contradiction between air displacement and leakage prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The membrane introduces a localized functional difference within the vent structure, where the material properties vary at the molecular level to allow gas passage while blocking liquid, enabling the vent to simultaneously achieve air displacement and leakage prevention through spatially differentiated permeability characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the chamber is completely sealed to prevent leakage, then liquid containment is improved, but liquid backflow through the exhaust needle cannot be prevented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid containmentVSAvoidbackflow risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The gas-permeable liquid-impermeable membrane creates a one-way pathway that allows air to escape during transfer while its liquid-impermeable property prevents exhausted liquid from backflowing through the exhaust needle, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining sealed containment and preventing backflow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

4Productivity

If multiple transfers are performed with the same connector, then productivity increases, but liquid pooling and backflow risk accumulate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemultiple transfersVSAvoidliquid pooling

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid-impermeable membrane ensures that liquid from each transfer cycle cannot pool in the chamber, as any liquid attempting to enter through the exhaust needle is blocked by the membrane's liquid-impermeable property. This allows multiple transfers to be performed without accumulating liquid pools that could cause backflow, thus maintaining productivity while eliminating the accumulating harm.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively absorbs and sequesters the displaced recipient liquid, reducing the risk of leakage and backflow, ensuring a secure transfer process with minimal loss of fluid, even during multiple transfers or container replacements.

Implementation Method 1

A liquid transfer connector with a high-porosity, rapid-absorption liquid-absorptive foam is used to capture and absorb the displaced recipient fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

high-porosity, rapid-absorption liquid-absorptive foam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentEP2640339B1Apparatus and methods for sequestering fluids exhausted during fluid transfer

Publication Date: 2017.04.12 ONPHARMA INC

AI summary

A liquid transfer connector comprises an enclosure holding a transfer needle and an exhaust needle. A container of donor liquid may be attached to an inlet end of the transfer needle and a container holding a recipient liquid may be attached to an outlet end of the transfer needle and an inlet end of an exhaust needle. The exhaust needle has an outlet end within the connector which releases displaced fluid into an absorbent mass which sequesters the fluid to prevent leakage.